Filing device



V W. L. DINSMOOR FILING DEVICE Filed DEC! 5. 1925 2 Sheets-$heet l 32 I INVENTOR WmF/EwLfl/m BY Mm ATTORNEYS June 15- W. L. DINSMOOR FILING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR W/NF/ELD L. OMS 100k BY Mm.

ATTORNEYS Patented June it), 1926.

H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WINFIELD L. DINSMOOR, 0F PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO CALIFORNIA ARCH FILE CORPORATION, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA.

FILING DEVICE.

Application filed December 5, 1923. Serial No. 678,712.

My invention relates to filing devices of the type embodied in my Letters Patent Number 1,340,? 57 issued May 18, 1920, and a purpose of my present invention is the provision of a filing device having a fixed spindle secured upon a support and a movable spindle, with means operable from the upper side of the support for moving the movable spindle to alined or disalined position with respect to the fixed spindle.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a filing device having means for latching the movable spindle in disalined position, means for urging the spindle to alined positions, and an abutment for limiting the movement of the spindle in either direction to prevent undue wear and tear on the other elements comprised in the filing device. A further purpose of my invention is the provision of a filing device which also includes means disposed at one end of the support 'for moving the vmovable spindle from alined to disalined position, such means being formed with an opening to receive a nail or other wall projection so that the filing device as a unit can be hung on a wall.

I will describe only one form of filing device embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of filing device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the filing device shown in Figure 1, but in the other extreme position;

Figure 3 is a view showing in bottom plan the position of the elements of the filing device when the movable spindles are in alined position with respect to the stationary spindles;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure showing the positions of the elements of the filing device when the movable spindles are in disalined position with respect to the stationary spindles;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the actuating arm or lever comprised in the filing device shown in the preceding views;

Figure. 6 is a fragmentary view showing an end elevation of the supporting plate of the filing device.

Similar reference characters refer to siniilar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a backing board or plate 15 having one end cut away to provide a pocket 16 which is spanned by a base plate or support 17 secured at its corners to the board by means of screws or other suitable fastening members 18. As shown in Figures 2 and 6, the plate 17 is formed at its upper or outer edge with a depending lip 19 provided with a slot 20 through which certain elements comprised in the device are adapted to move.

Space parallel'slots 21 are formed in the plate 17, and through these slots extend movable spindles 22, which latter cooperate with fixed spindles 23 to form filing arches. The fixed spindles 23 are suitably secured to the supporting plate 17 and their free ends are bent to form curved portions, as shown.

As shown in Figures 3 and l, a slide is ars ranged on the under side of the supporting plate 17, and this slide includes a rectangular portion 2A to which the movable. spindles are secured, as indicated a 25. The slide also includes an elongated portion 26 formed integral with the portion 2A and constituting a guiding extension which is slidable in the slot 20 of the lip 19. The portions 24 and 26 are formed with longitudinal slot 27, one end of which terminates adjacent the free end of the guiding extension 26 so that in the projected position of the extension, as shown in Figure 3, a portion of the slot is exposed to receive a nail or other wall projection for supporting the entire filing device as a unit upon a wall.

The slide is capable of occupying one extreme position as shown in Figure 3, in which the movable spindles 22 are. in alinedposition with respect to the free ends of the stationary spindles 23. It is also capable of occupying another extreme position as shown in Figure 4, in which the movable spindles 22 are separated from ordisalined with respect to the free ends of the stationary spindles 23. The slide is adapted to be normally urged to the first extreme position so as to normally maintain the spindles 22 in alined position with respect to the spindles 23, but is adapted to be manually moved to the other extreme position in order to permit the application or removal of cards or other matter to or from the spindles.

For normally urging the slide to the position shown in Figure 3, I provide a spring or other resilient member 28, and one end of this spring is secured to the lip 19, while its other end is connected to the lateral arm 29 of a latch member or lever 30. The latch member is provided with another lateral arm 31 through which -:-:tends a screw or other fastening member 32 to provide a pivotal mounting for the member upon the portion 2a of the slide. The latch member 30 is movable through the slot 20 of the lip 19 and is provided with a notch 33 which is adapted to engage one end wall of the slot 20 when the latch member is retracted to the position shown in Figure 4. It will be understood that by virtue of the mounting of the latch member it is movable with the slide (and in its retracted position it is urged by the spring to engage the lip to retain the slide in retracted position against the effective tension of the spring 28 on the slide.

The latch member is adapted to be actuated from the upper side of the supporting plate 171, and to this end I have provided anarm or lever 34 (Figure 5 provided on its under side with an extension or bloclr 35 which is adapted to move within a slot 36 of the supporting plate 17 and which receives screws or other fastening members 37 for securing the arm or lever to the lateral arm 29 of the latch member. It will of course be understood that the block 35 can be welded or riveted to the arm 29 or secured thereto in any suitable manner to provide a rigid connection between the two elements. The length of the slot 36 and the positioning of the block 35 is such as to limit the longitudinal movement of the slide as well as the latch member in either direction and to prevent the striking of the spindles 22 with either end of the slots 21 or with the free ends of the spindles 23. In this manner the block 35 forms an abutment to eliminate wear and tear upon the other elements of the filing device, as will be understood.

As shown in Figure 5, the arm or lever 34 is provided with an extension 38 tha' extends between and beyond the spindles 22 and 23 and within convenient reach of the operator. This extension 38 formed wit-h an upturned flange 39 which is adapted to be gripped when actuating the arm to operate the latch member. The spring 23 not only serves to project the slide and the latch member but also serves to normally urge the latch member laterally so that when the latch member is retracted to the position shown in Figure 4, it will en age the lip 19 and thus secure. the latch member as well as the slide in retracted position.

In practice, when the spindles 22 are disalined or in separated position as shown in Figure 1, the mechanism occupies the position shown in Figure l, with the latch member engaging the lip 19 to retain the element in retracted position against the tension of the spring 28. When desiring to move the spindles 22 to alined position it is only necessary to rock the arm 34, thereby imparting a corresponding movement to the latch member 30, thus moving the latter so as to disengage the lip 19, whereby the spring will respond to project the slide and thus move the spindles to a-lined position. To return the spindles 22 to separated position, it is only necessary to grip either .spindle and push the same rearwardly to the position shown in Figure 4:, when the latch member will engage the lip 19 under the action of the spring 28, thereby securing the slide in retracted position.

As the free ends of the latch member and slide at all times project beyond the li-pped end or the plate 17, it will be clear that the spindles 22 can be moved to alined or disalined position by actuating these elements. However, this is not desirable in this form of my invention because the filing device is adapted to be hung in vertical position upon a wall or other suitable support so that in order to manipulate these elements it will be necessary to remove the entire device from the wall. The arm 34 and the spindles 22 are in convenient reach of the operator when the device is in a vertical position to operate the mechanism for alining or disalining the spindles 22, but it will be understood that although the cards or sheets of paper filed upon the arch will overlie the arm an it will not prevent manipulation of the extension 38 to rock the latch member, nor will it prevent gri iiping ot' the spindles 22 for moving the latter to disalined position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of filing device embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

rl hat- I claim is:

1. A filing device comprising a support, a filing arch thereon including a fixed spindle and a. movable spindle, a. slide on the support carrying the movable spindle, a pivoted latch carried by the slide and adapted to engage the support to hold the slide with the spindles separated, yieldable means tending to swing the latch in a direction to effect engagement with said support, and an extension on the slide which is slotted and adapted to extend beyond the support for the purpose described.

2. A filling device comprising a support,

I a filing arch includin a fixed spindle and a movable spindle, a s ide on the under side of the support and carrying the movable spindle, a pivoted latch carried by the sllde and adapted to engage the support to hold the slide with the spindles separated, yieldable means tending to swing the latch in a direction to effect engagement with the support, and an arm positioned on the upper side of the support and rigidly connected to the latch for releasing the latter.

3. A filing device as embodied in claim 2, wherein the arm includes an angular extension having an upstanding gripping flange.

4:. A filing device comprising a support having a slot therein, a filing arch on the support including a fixed spindle and a movable spindle, a slide on the under side of the support and carrying. the movable spindle, an extension on the slide shdable through one end of the support, said slide.

and extension being formed with a longitudinal slot, a latch pivoted on the slide and adapted to engage the support to hold the slide with the spindles separated, means tending to swing the latch in a direction to effect engagement with the support, an arm on the upper side of the support for releasing the latch against the action of said means, and a connection between the arm and latch disposed for movement within the slot of the support and operating to limit the movei'ncnt of the slide in either direction.

5. A support having a slot thereln, a filing arch thereon including a fixed spindle and a movable spindle, a slide on the under side of the support and carrying the movable spindle, a latch pivoted on the slide and adapted to engage the support to hold the slide with the spindles separated, yieldable means acting to swing the latch in a direction to effect engagement with the support, an arm on the upper side of the support for releasing the latch against the action of said yieldable means, and a connection between the arm and latch disposed for movement .within the slot of the support and operating to limit the movement of the slide in either direction.

6. In a filing device, a support, a filing arch thereon including a fixed spindle and a movable spindle capable of occupying one extreme position in which it cooperates with the fixed spindle to form a closed arch, and another extreme position wherein it is disalined with respect to the fixed spindle, means for yieldably urging the movable spindle to the first extreme position, means for latching the movable spindle in the second extreme position, and means on the upper side of the support for actuating the latch means to permit the return of the movable spindle to the first extreme position under the action of said urging means.

7. A filing device comprising a support having a slot therein, a filing arch including a spindle fixed to the upper side of the support and a movable spindle, a slide on the under side of the support and carrying the movable spindle, an extension on the slide movable through one end of the support, said slide and extension being formed with a slot, a latch pivoted on the slide and adapted to engage the support to hold the slide with the spindles separated, a spring connected to one end of the support and to said latch, said spring being disposed within the slots of said slide and extension, and an arm on the upper side of the support having a projection thereon movable in the slot of the support and secured to the latch to provide a rigid connection between the arm and latch whereby the latter can be operated from the upper side of the support.

8. A filing device comprising a support having a slot therein, a filing arch including a spindle fixed to the upper side of the support and a movable spindle, a slide on the under side of the support and carrying the movable spindle, an extension on the slide movable through one end of the support, said slide and extension being formed with a slot aligned with that in the support, a latch pivoted on the slide and adapted to engage the support to hold the slide with the spindles separated, a spring connected to one end of the support and to said latch, said spring being disposed within the slots of said slide and extension, and an arm on the upper side of the support and detachably secured to the latch to provide a rigid connection between the arm and latch whereby the latter can be operated from the upper side of the support. I

9. A filing .device comprising a support, a fixed spindle secured on the support, a movable spindle on the support, means for latching the movable spindle in disalined position with respect to the fixed spindle, means for urging the movable spindle to alined posi* tion with respect to the fixed spindle, and means for limiting the movement of the movable spindle in either direction to prevent the striking of the free ends of the stationary spindles.

10. A filing device comprising a support, a fixed. spindle secured on the support, a movable spindle on the support, and means operable from one end of the support for moving the movable spindle to alined 0r disalined position with respect to the fixed spindle, said means'being formed so as to be adapted to receive a projection for sustaining the filing device on a wall.

WINFIELD L. DINSMOOR. 

